Bomb fuze liner centering clamp



Oct. 17, 1961 C. F. MILLINER, JR

BOMB FUZE LINER CENTERING CLAMP Filed 001;. 10. 1958 F I G.3.

m R WE WV WI. H M V- R A C ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,004,490 BOMBFUZE LINER CENTERING CLAMP Cary F. Milliner, Jr., Onleyg vag assigmr tuttrrrUnited States of America as represented by the Secretary of theNavy Filed Oct. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 766,626 3 Claims. (Cl. 102-70)(Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The inventiondescribed herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Governmentof the United States of America for governmental purposes without thepayment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to a centering tool to be used in centering abomb fuse liner.

During the bomb loading operation the charging tube is subjected to atorque which frequently deforms the tube to the extent that it must bereplaced. This is both a financial and time loss which can be avoided.Patent application of Frank C. Pars, Serial No. 715,163, filed February13, 1958, and now Patent Number 2,981,189, shows a complementary toolserving to avoid this damage to the charging tube.

An object of the present invention is to provide a centering clam-p fora bomb fuse liner which will hold the fuse liner centered and decreasethe torque to which the charging tube is subjected.

A further object is to provide a fuse liner centering clamp to preventthe application of torque to the rear charging tube of a low drag bombwhen the fuze liner is assembled to the charging tube and to maintainthe fuze liner centered during the loading operation.

A still further object is to provide a ring formed from a pair of hingedsemi-circular sections one of which carries a clamp to engage a fuzeliner, the ring having spaced legs adapted to engage the bomb body.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide aphysical connection between the bomb body and the fuze liner to preventrelative motion between said fuze liner and the bomb body during theloading operation.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top elevation;

FIG. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings in which like numbers denote like parts in theseveral views, there is shown a bomb body 8 on which the centering clamp10 is mounted.

The centering clamp 10 comprises a pair of semicircular of difierentdiameters.

3,001,190 Pat'entedOct. 17, 19

The smaller halL clamp, the possibility exists that in threading thecharging tube fitting nut assembly onto the charging tube fitting,excessive torque will be transmitted which may twist or distort thecharging tube. As the charging tube is surrounded by live explosive thisis highly undesirable.

The smaller half-ring 12 of the centering clamp 10 has a bridge 34secured at the centerpoint and above the halfring. This bridge was awing screw 36 and a key 38, both projecting toward the half-ring, thekey to engage a slot 40 cut into the rim 42 of the fuze liner 30, andthe wing screw to be turned to clamp securely the 42 between it and thehalf ring 12.

The centering clamp is secured to the fuze liner by clamping the rim 42between the smaller half-ring and the wing screw 36. Key 38 helpsprevent relative rotary motion between the clamp and fuze liner. Thelegs 18 are caught on the rim 24 of the bomb body and the leg 20 snappedinto place over the same rim. The fuze liner is now centered relative tothe bomb body and the charging tube. The clamp prevents displacement ofthe fuze liner and attached charging tube from normal center lineposition during the loading operation. This also facilitates theassembly of the base plate to the bomb body after the loading iscomplete.

Obvious-1y many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. In combination, a bomb, a central bomb fuze liner for said bomb and aclamp for centering a bomb fuze liner said bomb during an explosiveloading operation thereof, said clamp comprising a pair of half-ringshinged together to form a ring when in fuze liner supporting position,an outer formed on said bomb, means attached to said half-rings andengaging said rim to support and center said fuze liner supporting ringwith relation to the bomb, and means carried by one of said half-ringssupporting the fuze liner within the ring.

2. A clamp for centering a fuze liner within a bomb during explosiveloading operation according to claim 1 wherein the fuze :linersupporting ring centering means comprises three legs spaced 120 apartaround the ring.

3. The combination of a tubular fuze liner for a bomb with a centeringclamp for centering the fuze liner within a bomb during explosiveloading operation, the bomb being formed on its exterior wall with anannular rim, said centering clamp comprising a hinged pair ofhalfringsforming a n'ng when in fuze liner supportingposg ring 12 ishinged to the largelh lf i 14 b pins 16 fin, said ring being secured tosaid tuze liner, and means Legs are spaced 120 apart, two of the legs 18being attached to the smaller half-ring while the third leg 20 iscentrally secured to the larger half-ring. The legs 18 have inturnedends 22 for engagement with the rim 24 of a bomb body 8. The other leg20 is bent to form a shoulder 26 for engagement with the rim 24 and isextended to form an extended finger grip 28 used in locking clamp inposition or for releasing the clamp after use.

A fuze liner 30 carried within the bomb body has a charging tube (notshown) attached to it by the nut 32. The charging tube is attached bythreading the charging tube fitting nut onto the charging tube fitting,the torque applied is resisted through the dowel pins between theattached to said ring and engaging the bomb wall on the rim to centerand support the ring and fuze liner within the bomb.

